Expectations

Branding vs. Substance

Posted on 29-02-202419-04-2025by admin

How Branding Eclipses Educational Integrity

The cry of ‘Just do it’ echoes from SLT as they fuel a frustrating trend, but are schools prioritising branding over substance? Schools, especially academies, are eager to establish a unique identity, often relying on shit slogans and bullshit-branded policies, and insisting on brand recognition. But news flash: brand recognition is earned, not imposed. And, beneath the surface lies a significant problem—a gap between branding efforts and the actual educational value they claim to offer.

Communication Expectations Leadership Policies

“Research shows…”

Posted on 26-02-202419-04-2025by admin

ie. I heard it on a podcast once

Within leadership-led seminars for teachers, a familiar refrain echoes: “Research shows…” But behind this authoritative phrase lies a glaring truth – an obsession with educational research often blinds senior leaders to the broader horizons of knowledge. Instead of embracing a wealth of diverse insights, they find solace in the comforting embrace of their own echo chambers, where education-derived research reigns supreme. But this myopic approach comes at a cost – a cost paid by students, educators, and the future of education itself… and honestly, IT’S SOOOOOO DULL!

Behaviour Expectations Leadership Policies Well-Being

The Business Dress Myth

Posted on 22-02-202419-04-2025by admin

How ‘smart dress’ is a red herring

In the classroom, innovation and student engagement should be paramount, but there is an alternate focus for some SLT because, let’s face it, they have fuck all better to do: the enforcement of “business dress” for teachers. While proponents argue that such attire fosters seriousness, it’s time to address the elephant in the room—this is a school, not a fucking bank from the 1920s. The impracticality of suits and ties in an educational setting is glaring, and the repercussions are profound.

Behaviour Communication Expectations Policies Time Management Workload

Parents can be dick-trees

Posted on 12-02-202418-04-2025by admin

Navigate the Minefield of Parental Behavior

In the world of education, teachers find themselves not only attempting to mould young minds but also facing growing pressure to participate in discussions about behaviour with parents. Regrettably, a growing number of parents are finding it challenging to demonstrate appropriate standards of behaviour themselves — to the point, they are grade-a dicks and it is often evident that the apple hasn’t fallen too far from the proverbial dick-tree! Let’s explore the complexities and implications of this relationship between educators and parents, without reaching for the axe or box of matches.

Communication Expectations Leadership Policies Time Management Well-Being Workload

Chronic Email

Posted on 09-02-202419-04-2025by admin

Navigating the Sea of bullshit communication

The infamous flood of emails – a digital deluge that rivals a monsoon in rainy season but Noah can’t save you from this cataclysm. Imagine: you’re drowning in a sea of notifications, desperately trying to stay afloat amidst the relentless tide of bullshit email communication. The struggle is real, and the irony is undeniable. Let’s plunge into the depths of this email abyss and explore the multifaceted dilemma that engulfs education.

Expectations Leadership Recognition Time Management Well-Being Workload

Guilt as a tool

Posted on 31-01-202419-04-2025by admin

This dilemma involves the insidious use of guilt as a tool to coerce those in education, particularly teachers, into sacrificing their own, unpaid time for the “betterment” of the school. This bullshit practice, often disguised as a display of “good will” and an implied expectation, is yet another threat to the well-being of educators and the quality of education as a whole.

Expectations Leadership Toxicity Well-Being Workload

Toxic Resilience

Posted on 30-01-202418-04-2025by admin

Ever found yourself caught in the relentless whirlwind of stress, always striving for the elusive 100% output? Welcome to the world of “toxic resilience,” a concept coined by Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a distinguished stress expert from Harvard. In this post, I’ll attempt to dissect the pervasive nature of toxic resilience within our education system, highlighting its impact on teachers and the starring role played by leadership.

Expectations Leadership Time Management Well-Being Workload

The Lifestyle Choice

Posted on 22-01-202419-04-2025by admin

Within education, one of the many, yet often-unspoken crises, is the dilemma that forces teachers into a precarious balancing act between their commitment to shaping young minds and the relentless demands that threaten to consume their personal lives. At the heart of this issue lies a stark reality: the sacrifice of free time by educators striving not just to thrive in their profession but merely to survive the overwhelming workload.